UPDATEDBarnstable Town Manager John Klimm has signed an amendment to his employment contract that will end his day-to-day duties Sept. 30.

Town Clerk Linda Hutchenrider confirmed that she signed the amendment offered by the town council June 23 this morning [Sept. 2], which also bears the signatures of Klimm and Town Council President Fred Chirigotis.

Per the agreement, Klimm will end day-to-day duties Sept. 30, and remain on-call through Dec. 15.

Earlier today, the town council office issued a statement to councilors, written on behalf of Chirigotis, that read "[N]otice has been received from the town manager that he will remain employed through Dec. 15."

In an interview, Chirigotis said that Klimm has “clearly guided the Town of Barnstable to a firm financial position recognized by the AAA bond ratings and created a model which is attempting to be emulated across the county of consolidating municipal and school services and budgets.”

The council president said he believes that “none of this had anything to do with anything but politics and personal vendettas. For that, I’m truly offended.”

In a separate interview, Klimm said that “some on the council have made it increasingly difficult for me to manage. I preferred to stay, but there was a toxic environment that impacted every department.”

Asked for examples, the manager pointed to the last week, “when the management team was dealing with the hurricane and trying to help our citizens.” He said he received a letter from Councilor Jim Crocker regarding Klimm’s personal notes, an e-mail from Chirigotis that Councilor Hank Farnham wanted to do an immediate evaluation of his performance [one was completed less than a year ago], and an e-mail from a constituent who got an e-mail from Councilor Ann Canedy that said he was involved with “this new roads committee. I’m not involved.”

That week was just one of many in the last months, Klimm said, following a change in the political environment surrounding last year’s votes for council president and vice president.

“I was told at the beginning of this year that at least six councilors wanted me out, right after the leadership ballot,” Klimm said. “The reality is that I had a contract signed and I had an evaluation completed. Then something changed. That something was the election and the subsequent leadership battle.”

Klimm said controversy over the resignation of the council administrator in February amounted to “an attempt to get a seventh vote. It wasn’t an issue, it never was. [This began] long before that happened.”

The manager stressed that the buyout was not his idea. “I negotiated a five-year contract,” he said. “I did not ask to leave.” He said he delayed signing the contract amendment because he “hoped there would be some reconciliation, or change in the environment. It hasn’t happened.”

Although he hasn’t “aggressively sought” other employment, Klimm said, he has been contacted by other communities and non-profit organizations on the Cape and in Washington, D.C., about opportunities. Even so, he would be willing to remain at Barnstable’s helm.

“If a majority of the council, a new one or this one, changed their position and believed it would be in the best interest of the town to continue with the management team,” Klimm said, he would be interested.

That interest, he said, stems from being born and raised in Barnstable. “I love this town,” he said. “I believe that the accomplishments we’ve been able to bring to the town are significant, and there are many challenges still to face.”

The manager said he believes “the 12 years that I was here will be looked back on as progressive, as fiscally responsible. I think the management team assembled is second to none, and I’m proud of the work the men and women who call themselves Barnstable employees have achieved over 12 years.”

Attempts to reach other members of the council before posting were unsuccessful.